Wilhelmina Helena Pauline Maria Orange-Nassau and Waldeck-Pyrmont was Queen of the Netherlands from 23 Nov 1890 (although her mother Emma's regency lasted up to 31 Aug 1898) to 4 Sep 1948, when tendered her abdication in favour of her daughter, Princess Juliana, just celebrated the 50th anniversary of her formal succession to the throne.
|
| Salote Tupou III (1900-1965)
|
|
Salote Mafile`o Pilolevu Veionga Tupou III was Queen of Tonga from 5 Apr 1918 to her death on 15 Dec 1965. The islands de iure weren't an independent State up to 1970, when the British protectorate terminated. Nevertheless, as Britons did not interfere with the internal affairs, whe could consider Tonga a de facto sovereign kingdom and Salote a true reigning queen. Concerning this area, Liliuokalani (1838-1917) reigned from 1891 to 1893 in the Hawaii islands. And Makea Takau Ariki (Ariki of Roatonga and Aurua, 1845-1911) was Queen or Supreme High Chifess of the Cook Islands from 1874 to 1911, being from 1888 to 1900 Chief Executive and Leader of the Council of Chiefs of the Federation of the Cook Islands, just before the Cook Islands were attached to New Zealand, then still a Crown Colony.
Charlotte Aldegonde E'lise Marie Wilhelmine Nassau was Grand Duchess of Luxembourg from 15 Jan 1919 to 12 Nov 1964. Her elder sister, Grand Duchess Marie-Adélaďde (1894-1924), abdicated in favour of her after seven years of reign. Close to mark to mark her 46th aniversay, Charlotte abdicated in favour of his son Jean.
Juliana Louise Emma Marie Wilhelmina Orange-Nassau and Mecklenburg-Schwerin reigned in the Netherlands from 4 Sep 1948 to 30 Apr 1980. On that day she abdicated in favour of her daughter, Princess Beatrix. Additionally, was regent for her mother twice: from 14 Oct 1947 to 1 Dec 1947 and from 14 May 1948 to 30 Aug 1948.
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary is the Queen the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (and nominal head of State for 15 Commonwealth countries) since 6 Feb 1952 in the death of her father, King George VI. Was crowned as 4th sovereign of the Windsor dinasty on 2 Jun 1953. She is currently the longest-time woman ruler in the world and the third oldest one among all worldwide rulers, only preceded by Prince Rainier III of Monaco (1949) and King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand (1946).
See a more extended biography (in Spanish) at CIDOB Foundation.
|
| Sisovath Monivong Kossomak Nearireath (1904-1975)
|
|
Queen Sisovath of Cambodia ruled together with her husband King Norodom Suramarit from 3 Mar 1955 to his death on 3 Apr 1960 as virtual co-head of State. When her son Prince Norodom Sihanouk ruled as chief of State (20 Jun 1960 to 18 Mar 1970), as the throne was declared vacant, she served as ceremonial head of State and Symbol of the Crown.
|
| 'MaMohato Tabitha 'Masentle Lerotholi (1938-2003)
|
|
Queen Mother of Lesotho, served three times as Regent during vacancies in the office of King: (1) From 5 Jun 1970 to 20 Nov 1970: after the removal of Moshoeshoe II and the brief assumption of power as "Tona-Kholo" by prime minister Leabua Jonathan, when the royalty was restored and until the re-accession of Moshoeshoe II. (2) From 6 Nov 1990 to 12 Nov 1990: after the deposition of Moshoeshoe II by the military junta and until the installation of Letsie III. (3) From 15 Jan 1996 to 7 Feb 1996: after the death of Moshoeshoe II in a car accident and until the election and re-installation of Letsie III. She seems to have been the first woman in head an African independent State. Nevertheless, Zauditu ruled as Empress of Ethiopia from 1917 to 1930, while 'Mantsebo Amelia 'Matsaba Sempe, another former Queen Mother of Lesotho, served as regent from 28 Jan 1941 to 12 Mar 1960 for Moshoeshoe II, still under colonial rule. (See also the Swaziland's queens below).
Margrethe Alexandrine Thorhildur Ingrid Slesvig-Holsten-Sřnderborg-Glücksborg and Bernadotte is the Queen of Denmark since 14 Jan 1972, when succeeded her just deceased father, King Frederik IX. She is the first Danish queen in more than five centuries, as Margaret I reigned over Denmark, Norway and Sweden from 1353 to 1412.
See a more extended biography (in Spanish) at CIDOB Foundation.
Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard Orange-Nassau and Lippe-Biesterfeld is the Queen of the Netherlands since 30 Apr 1980, when Queen Juliana abdicated. She belongs to a unique dinasty as its three monarchs since 1890 have been women.
See a more extended biography (in Spanish) at CIDOB Foundation.
Dzeliwe Shongwe
Queen-regent of Swaziland from 21 Aug 1982 in the death of King Sobhuza II to 9 Aug 1983. It must be recalled the record of Queen Labotsibeni Gwamile Ndluli (died in 1925), who acted as Paramount Chief of Swazilandia during her regency for young Prince Sobhuza from 10 Dec 1899 to 22 Dec 1921.
Queen-regent of Swaziland from 18 Aug 1983 succeeding also Queen-regent Dzeliwe Shongwe to 25 Apr 1986 in the inauguration of her son King Mswati III. The Queen Mother of Swaziland has an official, constitutional role as joint-head of State and rules together with her son. This traditional role is part of their new constitution, which says that Swaziland is a "Dual Monarchy" where the King and Queen Mother, the Ndlovukazi (Great She-Elefant), rule jointly.
 |
© Copyright ZPC, Roberto Ortiz de Zárate, 1996-2007
http://www.terra.es/personal2/monolith/00women1.htm mothman@teleline.es |
